Reflector



Nov. 14, 1939.. R. I. JQHN$ REFLECTOR Filed July 29, 1956 RERECTING swam M 5056/) Job/7a Patented Nov. 14, 1939 UNITED STAThfl harem OFFICE REFLECTOR Application July 29, 1936, Serial No. 93,300

4 Claims.

The present invention relates primarily to improvements in glass light reflectors of the double wall type which are usually mounted directly upon or otherwise associated with electric lamp bulbs, for example, by fixing in a conventional holder above. the bulb.

More specifically, the invention has especial relation to that type of reflector which is of the one-piece double wall type and wherein reinforcing material is provided between the glass walls both at the bottom and at the top of the reflector.

A primary object of the invention is to provide means for reinforcing the double wall reflector and insulating the same from the electric lamp bulb over which it may be placed.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved method for sealing the aperture at the top of the double wall reflector.

The invention consists essentially in taking the usual substantially bell-shaped type of double wall reflector formed of glass, which in its unfinished form has a ring-shaped aperture at its upper end, through which access may be gained to the space between the glass walls. A binding material is poured into said space through the aperture and allowed to spreadaround the bot-- tom of the space between the glass walls to form a hard ring. The resultant reinforcing ring protects the lower edge of the reflector from breaking too easily without adding too great a weight to the reflector.

After the binding material has hardened the reflector may be inverted and placed in a shallow vessel containing binding material. After the binding material has begun to harden, the reflector is withdrawn from the vessel, surplus binding material is removed from the reflector, and the rest left to harden. The result is another ring of cement or other binding material formed in the aperture at the upper end of the reflector, closing said aperture.

A U-shaped ring of moulded plastic compound, fibre or other non-heat conducting material other than glass may then be cemented over the top of the closed aperture, one leg of the U preferably being shorter than the other so that on the outside of the reflector a comparative short lip extends downwardly, whereas a relatively long lip extends along the inner surface of the reflector. This inner lip serves to protect the reflector and the binding material from the heat which is generated by the burning electric light.

In one embodiment of the invention the inner lip may be extended upwardly from the top of the reflector, permitting the whole reflector to be fixed in a screw holder, thus lifting same entirely off of the associated lamp bulb.

The foregoing and other features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodi- 5 ment thereof selected for the purpose of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

1 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, with a portion cut away to illustrate 19 1e construction of a reflector according to this invention;

Fig. 1a is a partial section view, on a somewhat enlarged scale, through the reflector and showing the coatings on the interior of the glass.

Fig. 2 is a detailed partial sectional view of a slightly different aperture closing structure;

Fig. 3 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the insulating ring shown in Fig. 1, said ring being, however, made in two parts 20 instead of one; and Fig. 4 is a View, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a two-part insulating ring corre sponding to the form shown in Fig. 2.

The illustrated reflector 2B is constructed of moulded or blown glass and preferably comprises inner wall H which may be provided with corrugations 22 to increase the strength thereof and outer wall 23.

As shown on the drawing, inner and outer walls 2% and 23 are preferably integral, being interconnected by a loop portion at the bottom of the reflector. The walls extend upwardly from the said loop connection in substantially parallel relationship and to substantially the same extent. The thickness of the walls preferably is retained substantially uniform throughout.

The reflector is so formed that a space 24 is left between the walls 21 and 23. As can be seen from Fig. 1, the reflector may assume the shape of a truncated cone with a decided flare at the base. The dimensions of the reflector may vary according to the size of the bulb to be employed. The reflector is preferably mounted to rest on the narrow neck portion of the bulb, as shown, or suspended from a conventional holder, depending on the form of insulating upper terminal used.

After formation of the reflector, the interior reflector surface is silvered in conventional manner to provide a good reflecting surface. It is to be noted that the reflecting composition is applied to the inner surface of walls 2! and 23, as shown at 2! and 23', respectively. When the aperture 26 at the top of walls 2| and 23 is sealed in the manner hereinafter described, the space rial or cement.

24 is substantially airtight. This has the advantage of preventing oxidation of the reflecting composition, which avoids the danger of having the reflecting composition turn black. This danger is always present when a reflecting composition containing silver is used. To make perfectly sure that the composition will not turn black the coated inner surfaces of walls 2| and 23 can be sprayed with a protective lacquer.

It is to be noted that the above-mentioned corrugations 22 are formed by intersecting prismatic ribs 21 which form facet surfaces 28. is known, such facet surfaces increase the intensity of the reflection. The facet surfaces may, of course, be changed to any design or arrangement.

After the application of the reflecting coating, a hardenable binding material or cement of any suitable and desired composition is poured in liquid or semi-liquid form, in the space 24 through the aperture 23. (Note: in the drawing aperture 26 is shown as sealed in the manner to be described.) This cement spreads along the lower section of the space 24 and forms, when hard, a ring 29 which in effect welds the walls 2| and 23 together at their lower extremities. The ring 29 serves to prevent breakage from contraction and expansion coming from changes in the surrounding temperature. It is obvious that the ring 29 also serves to reinforce the reflector generally.

When the last named operation has been completed, the reflector is inverted and placed in a shallow vessel containing more binding mate- The material fills the upper section of space 24 as shown at 30 forming a second ring similar in structure and purpose to the lower ring 29. The reflector is withdrawn from the vessel containing the binding material before the latter has had time to harden completely. Thus the surplus cement may be removed from the exterior wall surfaces. The height of the upper ring 30 may be controlled by varying the depth of the binding material in the shallow vessel.

As shown in Fig. 1, a ring 3| of material which is a poor conductor of heat, and which has the configuration, in cross section, of an inverted U with one leg shorter than the other, is then cemented tothe top of reflector Zil. The longer leg or lip 32 extends downwardly along the inner surface of wall 2| and serves as a buffer between the surface of the bulb and the reflector. Leg 32 may be corrugated to increase springiness and radiation; see Fig. 3. Since the ring 3| is formed of heat resistant material, the reflector is protected from the deleterious effect of the heat emanating from the bulb 25. The shorter lip 33 of ring 3| extends downwardly along the outer surface of wall 23.

The ring 3| is preferably made of material other than glass. A preferred material is moldable plastic material or fibrous pulp, such as asbestos or resin compounds like Bakelite etc.,

which results in a yieldable and more or less resilient product. The shapes of the ring shown are primarily illustrative and not limitative and may be varied as found necessary and desirable. The ring may also be made of mixtures of the above-named substances and may additionally comprise filters, etc.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 3 corresponds substantially to that shown in Fig. 1, except that the ring 3|, instead of being in one piece, is made up of two sections joined together, by suitable that the ring is made of two sections, instead of one, joined together by suitable and conventional through the upper end of the reflector.

adhesive means or the like, at seam or joint 3|. In addition, leg 32 is shown as provided with corrugations, as hereinbefore mentioned.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2, leg 32 is omitted and is replaced instead by an upwardly-extending annular sleeve or extension 34.

This sleeve 34 is adapted to be secured in a con- Ventional metal shade holder 35 or the like by means of conventional binding screws 36, substantially as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 4 corresponds substantially to that shown in Fig. 2, except means at seam or joint 3|. In addition, sleeve 34 may be corrugated as shown, if desired.

In use, reflector 20, according to Fig. 1, is fitted directly over lamp bulb 25, the latter extending It must be emphasized that the glass portion of the reflector 20 does not come in contact either with the bulb 25 or the socket (not shown), since it is the function of ring 3| to prevent such contact. The reflector is reinforced against breaking by the rings 29 and and by the heat resistant material of the buffer ring 3|.

According to Fig. 2, the reflector depends from the conventional holder but is in relatively close proximity to bulb 25.

A great advantage of the above-detailed structure is that the termini of the walls 2| and 23 are not fused together as is the prior usual construction. Such fusing is a frequent source of breakage, since deleterious stresses and strains are invariably set up duringthe fusing operation. I

Another advantage of the fiber. ring! isthat rattling is prevented, and it becomes possible to utilize the reflector for vehicle lights. The provision of the lip 34 ensures a very snug fitting, preventing both noise and excessive vibration of the reflector.

The reflector according to the present invention may be made of transparent crystal glass, or any similar material, and this may be of any color desired, but is preferably electric blue so that the filament light reflected therefrom is bluish white in character and closely resembles daylight. If desired, the reflector may be decorated with ornamental designs. This applies also to the sealing ring. Preferably, however, the latter may be inscribed with advertising inscriptions or other indicia. I

Reinforcing ring 30 may be omitted and top of the reflector walls bridged solely by ring 3| suitably cemented thereto.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A reflector formed of two glass walls and adapted to be mounted directly upon an electric light bulb, formation of said walls being such that a space is left therebetween, a ring of binding material within said walls, said ring serving to absorb heat and reinforce said reflector, and a yieldable buffer ring adhesively secured to the top of said reflector, said buffer ring comprising a portion which is operatively arranged between said walls and said bulb, thereby serving to prevent said reflector from coming in contact with the heated surface of the bulb.

2. A double wall glass reflector comprising spaced inner and outer walls of substantially equal upward extent, the upper spaced edges of said walls being substantially coplanar, means integrating said walls at their lower ends, rings. of 75 cement disposed at the lower and upper extremities of said space, said rings serving to absorb heat and reinforce said reflector, a third ring of relatively yieldable heat resistant material disposed across the top edges of said walls and across the upper of said rings, said third ring having the shape of an inverted U, one of the legs of said U extending downwardly along the inner surface of said reflector to keep said reflector from coming in contact with a heated surface, all of said rings serving to insulate the reflector and prevent rapid expansion and contraction of the same.

3. A double walled blue glass reflector of the character described, adapted to be supported on an electric light bulb and consisting essentially of spaced inner and outer walls, the upper edges of said walls being substantially coplanar, an armate glass annulus integral with said walls at the bottom thereof and interconnecting them, a refleeting coating on the interior surface of said inner wall, a protective coating on said reflecting coating, and a disk of yieldable heat-resistant material different from the material of said walls adhesively secured to said upper edges and bridging the space therebetween, said disk being downwardly flanged at each edge thereof, the inner flange being adapted to keep the reflector from coming into direct contact with said electric light bulb.

4. A double walled blue glass reflector of the character described, adapted to be supported on an electric light bulb and consisting essentially of spaced inner and outer walls, the upper edges of said walls being substantially coplanar, an arcuate glass annulus integral with said walls at the bottom thereof and interconnecting them, a refleeting coating on the interior surface of said inner wall, a protective coating on said reflecting coating, and a disk of yieldable heat-resistant material different from the material of said walls adhesively secured to said upper edges and bridging the space therebetween, said disk being flanged at its inner edge, said inner flange being longitudinally corrugated.

ROBERT I. JOHNS. 

